Environmental Group Critical Of Clean Energy Program Budget Cuts

STATE – A New Jersey environmental group was critical of funding cuts in a recently released draft budget for clean energy programs.

The Board of Public Utilities’ draft budget includes $391 million for clean energy programs, a decrease of $260 million from a December proposal. Energy efficiency funding for new programs is decreasing to $238 million from $409 million and renewable energy funding would fall from $59 million to $16 million.

“Gov. Christie’s budget raids of the clean energy funds have cost us,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “By stealing all the clean energy money to balance his budget the governor has cut important programs. These programs would have helped the people of New Jersey save money on their electric bills, reduce pollution and create thousands of jobs. You cannot have a New Jersey comeback when you raid clean energy funds and hurt our economy.”